Motion Picture News (Nov-Dec 1925)

November 21, 1925 2459 9 and 3/5 Seconds (A. G. Steen, Inc.) (Reviewed by George T. Partly* CONSTRUCTED to exploit Charles Paddock, world's champion sprinter^ this stunt drama registers the new star as a very pleasing personality and actor of considerable merit for a novice. They didn't show dazzlingly acute judgment in the •choice of a vehicle, however, for the story is decidedly thin, nor has the director succeeded in showing off Paddock's athletic ability to the best advantage. As it stands, the picture isn't strong enough to stand the test of an all-the-week run, but will answer very well sis an attraction for houses whei-e bill is frequently changed. The hero's race against a horse and his victory in the Olympic Games .are the big punches. The first episode doesn't convey the thrill it ought to, because of poor staging, but the second gets over in cracking style. Charles Paddock plays his part with creditable vim and is never camera-conscious, George Fawcett plays the stern papa to perfection and the work of the cast as a whole is excellent. THEME. Stunt drama, featuring world's champion sprinter, Charles Paddock, with love interest as side issue. PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS. Hero's hobo adventures. His meeting with heroine, race against horse and scene in which he breaks sprinting record. EXPLOITATION ANGLES. Make a strong play for the sporting contingent by boosting star's performances on running track. Stress the romantic angle. DRAWING POWER. O. K. for theatres operated on daily change schedule. Story interest too slight for critical audiences. SUMMARY. A stunt drama in which Charles Paddock, champion sprinter, shows surprising dramatic ability. Narrative rather weak, acting fine all-around. THE CAST Charles Raymond Charles W. Paddock Jasper Raymond , George Fawcett "Walter Raymond Jack H. Giddings Lucille Pringle Peggy Schaffer Mary Bowser Helen Ferguson Link Edwards G. Raymond Nye Motherbund Otis Harlan Author, Roy Clements. Director, Lloyd B. Carleton. SYNOPSIS. Charley Raymond, college athlete, is disowned "by his father, has his clothes stolen by hobo, assumes latter's garments and nickname of "Chuck" and is thrown off freight train. He meets and loves Mary Bowser, ranchman's daughter and wins a race against a fast horse. Mary is kidnapped by a jealous suitor. Charley pursues on foot and rescues her. Later, he returns home, breaks the world sprinting record in Olympic Games and wins Mary. 9 and 3/5 Seconds (A. G. Steen Prod.) PRESS NOTICE A TREAT for sport lovers, as well as all admirers of fast stunt drama, with deftly developing love interest, is announced by the scheduling of "9 and 3-5 Seconds" as the leading screen attraction at the theatre on . This vivid romance of the running track presents the famous world's champion sprinter, Charles Paddock in the leading role. He is seen as a youthful college graduate, disowned by his father, who lands on a ranch, where he wins the love of the owner's daughter and a race against a fast horse. Later, he returns home is reconciled to his parent, breaks the world's sprinting record at the Olympic Games and gets the girl. CATCH LINES Charles Paddock, world's greatest sprinter, with a brilliant supporting last — thrills, romance, suspense, astonishing athletic stunts! Georee Fawcett, who appears in the A. G. Steen production, "Nine and Three-fifths Second". The Ancient Highway (Paramount — 6034 feet) (.nei'iewed by George T. Pardy) ANOTHER James Oliver Curwood story of the open air adventure variety which runs true to that author's usual plot formation of brisk action and sensational melodramatic incident. This time it's a logging camp locale, with hero Jack Holt risking his life with careless ease to keep the villain from interfering with the business plans of the girl in the case, and beating up the scheming gent in a lively scrap. Old material, most of it, but put over with plenty of ginger. Not the sort of picture likely to make a hit with high-class audiences, but ranking as a fair enough program attraction. There are a good many spectacular episodes, among which that of Holt setting a dynamite charge to free a log jam, and rescuing his assistant just before the blast goes off, registers as the banner thrill. The scenic shots of the Canadian country, wood and water, are very attractive. THEME. Western melodrama, logging camp locale, hero defeating plans of villain to ruin financially girl who owns lumber land tract. EXPLOITATION ANGLES. Feature Jack Holt, Billie Dove, Montagu Love. You can safely promise patrons lots of excitement, and stress story's romantic side. PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS. The fast action and scenic charm. Holt's fistic battle with villain. ^ DRAWING POWER. O. K. as program attraction. Should please fans who like action plus, and aren't particular about actual story values. SUMMARY. An average melo with Canadian logging camp backgrounds, crashes over several spectacular punches, plot ordinary, action fast, offers many beautiful open-air views, ought to score in program field. THE CAST Cliff Brant Jack Holt Antoinette St. Ives Billie Dove Ivan Hurd Montagu Love Gaspard St. Ives Stanley Taylor John Denis Lloyd Whitlock Ambrose William A. Carroll Angel Fanchon Marjorie Bonner Author, James Oliver Curwood. Director, Irvin Willat. SYNOPSIS. Clifton Brant discovers that Ivan Hurd, lumber king, who ruined and killed his father, is revenging himself upon Antoinette St. Ives for her refusal of his advances by obstructing the spring drive of the company in which she is financially interested. Brant thrashes Hurd in his office. Later, after numerous adventures, he dynamites the log jam planted by Hurd, at the risk of his life, frees the logs, escapes and wins Antoinette, whose fortune he has saved. The Ancient Highway (Paramount) PRESS NOTICE A GREAT open air adventure story with Canadian logging camp background, is set forth in "The Ancient Highway," which will be shown at the Theatre on . Jack Holt is the hero and he is seen seeking revenge on the man who ruined his father, Ivan Hurd, lumber king, only to find that Hurd is also persecuting Antoinette St. Ives by blocking the operations of a company in which she is interested. Hurd is severely beaten by Holt, and the latter then dynamites and breaks up a log jam planted by Hurd, escaping death by a hair's breadth. Hero and heroine are finally united. CATCH LINES See Jack Holt racing for life in a canoe ahead of driving, swirling logs ! Watch him set off the dynamite blast which frees the log jam ! Thrills galore and tender roma-ce packed into "The Ancient Highway"! Jack Holt, star of "The Ancient Highway," a Paramount production.